Saturday, April 30, 2016

I use to think I was addicted to paper, but now I do believe a die addiction has taken over. You can not only use the die cut, but also the negative to stencil backgrounds and such. Okay, maybe it is both!

Friday, April 29, 2016

My folder for cards to post is getting out of hand, so I thought maybe today I would double up on my post. My first card is one that I designed and created for my DS's 32nd Birthday. I found this really cool scrap of outdoor paper and I just ran with it. We both love nature, and I was pleased with the masculine feel that it had when completed.

My second card is an Easter creation that just did not get posted. This weather has been so crazy, that the lilacs are just now popping open here. Add that to the fact that Easter was so dang early this year, and we have my slowness to post. Just saying......

I found a fantastic post with this inspiration photo that drew me in. So happy that I saved it now!

For this one, I rounded the corners of my base card, added a layer of shimmering lavender card, and then my stamped top panel.

I used the two step Lilac stamps from SU!, an unknown sentiment, added a square doily and a gemstone butterfly by Recollections.

I will be entering this at the Card Concept 54 which is spring flowers, and this inspiration photo!

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

I made this card for a doggie-lover friend at work. The poor thing came down with shingles. They are so painful. Anyhow.......

My card starts with a white base and a layer of designer paper from Basic Grey called Aurora. My sentiment and pooch stamps are from Inky Antics. The dies used are a stitched oval from MFT, and a word die from Sizzix/Tim Holtz. Punched stars are from SU with Diamond Stickles added. A few turquoise sequins are added for a special pop.

Sunday, April 24, 2016

This sweet girl is buried in her books! Nothing wrong with that, right? I created this tag for the Unity Show and Tell challenge over on FB. Every few weeks they ask us to use one of the Unity Girls on a project. The stamps are from the monthly kit from May 2015, called Spread your Wings. I used Distress Inks and touches of Copic marker. There are scraps of designer paper and some embellishments. For the extras, I used wrinkle ribbon which I made, enamel dots from SU!, and some felt embellishments from Jolee's Boutique.

Friday, April 22, 2016

Today I have a card that just sort of happened when I was playing at my desk. I am quite thrilled with the result! I am a paper hoarder... there I said it. I started cutting some of my ancient 12x12 papers into quads so that I use them up. I reached in the little basket I have on my desk and pulled out this yummy paper. It is oodles old, but the texture and colors are wonderful. I cut an A2 background, and Lawn Fawn stitched leaves with the extra paper. I also cut a Lil Inkers stitched rectangle from watercolor paper. First, I stamped the panel with a text background from Stamp Camp. Next I cut the word hello with a die from Crafter's Companion. I used the negative from that word to create a shadow and then place the word on top slightly nudged. My only embellishments are three candy dots from SU!

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Here is a card I made using a new die from MFT called Scribble Flower, a leaf stamp from Penny Black, and a Spellbinders die sporting a sentiment that is from Inkadinkado. (thanks, Di!) I had fun with lots of inks and sponging. My designer paper is from Crate Paper and is called Kiss Kiss. A couple candy dots were used for embellishments.

It has been a gorgeous week, so far. Lots of sunny days and warm afternoons. The evenings get cool but they are really enjoyable for sitting out. Have a fantastic second half to your week. Thanks for the visit.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

This past weekend, I went in search of the new Art Impression sets that are exclusive to Michael's Stores. It took a couple of stores to find this funny ICU/ Get Well set. They must be selling like hotcakes.

My card is very simple and uses images stamped in Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. The designer paper scraps are from my bin, and I added a few sequins for a bit of sparkle. This will be great for the stash, as the men's cards are so hard.

There is a current challenge over on the Art Impressions blog. It is Challenge #182, called Show Off Your Stamp. He is definitely "Showing" off!

Saturday, April 16, 2016

I had so much fun making the teal and grey card below, that I had to give a second card a go. That and the fact that everything was still on my desk....LOL!

I used some Bazzill embossed dot card stock for my base and watercolor paper for the rest. The Unity stamp I used is one of their Itty Bitty sets called Relax, Renew, Restore. The inks are SU and the colors are Lost Lagoon, and Smoky Slate. I cut the oval after stamping the lilacs 3x and sponged the edges. A water brush was used to pull some color into the blossoms. I did not want to throw the negative so I created a patterned frame with the gray ink. I popped the oval with foam tape to give dimension. For embellishment, there are SU candy dots. MS butterfly punches and a piece of homemade wrinkle ribbon.

Today is yard work day. It is suppose to be beautiful. I mostly supervise the boss so he does not pull out my good plants. Being deathly allergic to bees, this is my very favorite time of year since they are not real active yet. Hope you are having a real pretty day also.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

This week I dug way back in the archives to find this Unity Store Kit, which is a split kit. One half is called All About the Journey, and the the other is called Bold Insight. I used stamps from both halves. I do believe I will leave this card without an inside sentiment for now. This would be great as a graduation card or also to send someone on their way to a new job.

The colors for this challenge are grey and teal. I just love both. so here is how it came together.

My card base is a silver grey metallic, followed by a layer of white and then black. I cut a stitched panel with Lil Inkers dies and did the smoosh technique with SU inks. The colors are Smokey Slate and Lost Lagoon. Next came my stamps and I highlighted the compass rose with a teal Copic. My embellishments are waxed black twine and a silver star charm.

Have a fantastic day, and I sure do hope this nice weather continues! The visit is so appreciated.

Saturday, April 9, 2016

This week at Unity Show and tell, we were giving a Photo Inspiration Challenge. I debated my approach for a few days, and then just jumped in. Here is the photo.

My designer papers are from Basic Grey's Hopscotch collection. I created my drops by stamping on the reverse side of my paper and cutting out. My sentiment and butterfly are both Unity. The sentiment is from a grab bag and the butterfly is from the December 2012 KOM. I created a top border using an MS punch and added some enamel dots.

Thanks for the visit. I am waiting for the snow to begin here. Is it really April?

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

I saw this exciting inspiration challenge over at Vicki Dutcher's Blog, and I had to give it a go. It is at Double D Challenges, and is called Yellow... A Happy Place to Be. Here is the photo that they used for inspiration.

My card is a basic white base. The designer polka dot paper is from Heidi Grace's Sunshowers Collection. Eek.... I love polkadots. My friend Colleen sent me some surprise diecuts. This bird one from TH is water colored. I added an eye by inking my piercing tool end. The sentiment is a Unity stamp. I added some tiny Prima flowers around his neck and topped each with a clear gem. Washi tape was used for his perch.

Sunday, April 3, 2016

This week, for the Unity Show and Tell Challenge, on FB, there is a Sketch to follow. I always have to push it a little. There was a stamp in the April 2014 KOM that I wanted to use, so my panel may be a bit wide. I do, however, like the results.

I stamped the image from Botanical bliss on white with Versafine Onyx Black ink and coated it with clear embossing powder while it was still wet. After heating, I framed my image with Micropore tape to form a border. Out came the Distress Inks in Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, and Peacock Feathers. My designer papers are from Pink Paislee's Hey Kid collection. I stamped my sentiment from the same kit and mounted my panel with foam tape, for dimension. My row of 3 embellishment are tiny butterfly punches from MS with added K&Co gem stones.

Enjoyed the Final Four game, last evening! Sorry, all of you Oklahoma fans, but Villanova handed you your hats and sent you packing! Go Wildcats! We are also dealing with weather extremes today. Praying the power stays on!

Copyright

All content (including text, photographs, and design work) is copyright Mary Anne Kelemen. My artwork (all original unless otherwise stated) is shared only for your personal inspiration and may not be copied for publication or contest submission.